Advanced demethylation and depolymerization strategies for valorizing lignin

在这个合作项目中，湖首大学生物精炼研究所的Fatehi博士和FPInnovations的Daniel Beaudoin博士将研究用于酚醛树脂和环氧树脂以及聚氨酯泡沫的去甲基化和解聚木质素衍生物的生产。目前，卡夫木质素和水解木质素在加拿大通过FPInnovations开发的LignoForce和TMP-Bio技术进行商业化和商业化生产。然而，通过这些技术生产的木质素在工业上的使用是有限的。在这个拟议的合作项目中，将从根本上评估在水性体系中生产去甲基化和解聚木质素衍生物的机会。将研究各种创新途径，以生产用于粘合剂、树脂和泡沫的去甲基化和解聚木质素衍生物，并详细评估与lignforce和TMP-Bio工艺最兼容的工艺，以促进其适应性和商业化。Fatehi博士和FPInnovations的工作人员将密切合作，每季度举行一次会议，以便将开发的技术适应并实际应用于现有技术。新工艺将帮助FPInnovations在纸浆厂（如西弗雷泽木材公司）采用已开发的技术，以实现木质素产品的商业化。此外，该项目将使Fatehi博士能够研究与去甲基化和解聚木质素衍生物在粘合剂、树脂和泡沫应用中的应用相关的基础知识。木质素衍生化学品的生产是建立以木材为基础的生物炼制的途径，这将增加和多样化加拿大各地纸浆厂的收入。

In this collaborative project, Dr. Fatehi of the Biorefining Research Institute at Lakehead University, along with Dr. Daniel Beaudoin of FPInnovations, will investigate the production of demethylated and depolymerized lignin derivatives for application in phenol formaldehyde and epoxy resins, as well as poly urethane foams. Currently, kraft lignin and hydrolysis lignin are produced at pre-commercial and commercial scales in Canada via the LignoForce and TMP-Bio technologies that FPInnovations developed. However, the use of lignin produced via these technologies is limited in industry. In this proposed collaborative project, the opportunities for producing demethylated and depolymerized lignin derivatives in aqueous based systems will be fundamentally evaluated. Various innovative pathways will be examined to produce demethylated and depolymerized lignin derivatives for their use in adhesives, resins and foams, and the most compatible process with the LignoForce and TMP-Bio processes will be evaluated in detail for facilitating their adaptation and commercialization. Dr. Fatehi and FPInnovations' staff will collaborate closely and meet on a quarterly basis so that the developed technology can be adapted and practically implemented into the existing technologies. The new processes will assist FPInnovations in adopting the developed technologies in pulp mills (e.g., West Fraser Timber company) for commercializing the valorized lignin products. Additionally, this project will enable Dr. Fatehi to investigate the fundamentals associated with the application of demethylated and depolymerized lignin derivatives in adhesives, resins and foam applications. The production of lignin-derived chemicals is a pathway to establish wood based biorefinery, which will increase and diversify the revenues of pulp mills across Canada.